R2OK!

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

As the last SOTS thread now has 152 postings, it seems a good time to start a new one.

Not too much to say re the edition on Sat 8 Nov but it was topped and tailed by two of my special favourites--Our Favourite Melodies by Craig Douglas and Georgie Fame's Because I Love You.

The Four Pennies' Juliet was a rare example of a B side making it to the top whilst the A side in question (the undistinguished Tell Me Girl) sank without trace.

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: SOTS...

Sad to say I no longer enjoy this show as much with the new producer. I tend to look at the the playlist in advance on the Radio 2 showpage and may or may not switch it on to listen. I also miss the American Top Twenty Chart from a week in the sixties that used to feature some really good songs that we didn't hear at the time.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Hello Briant

I feel the same way, it's not the same as it was. I often miss the first hour and like you check the playlist to see if I've missed anything.

I enjoyed Walking In The Rain from the Ronettes this week and the Tim Hardin 3 in a row.

H

PS I found a site with some ancient live Beatles recordings including some from Saturday Club and one that was live at the Liverpool Empire back in 63. http://www.beatlespennylane.com/rare_hard_to_find_beatle_MP3's-tracks3.htm
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

For me the show is as indispensible as ever but it's clear that some well informed opinion thinks otherwise.

Does anyone know what its audience figures are now, compared with those from the era of Roger Bowman?

Ian.

Mark Mayhew · Joined: 11 Dec 2006 Posts: 2897

I wonder what a respected broadcaster like Brian Matthews thinks of someone like Jonathan Ross.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I enjoyed the Four Tops 3 in a row yesterday, Don't Walk Away Rene, Baby I Need Your Lovin, then Reach Out I'll Be There.

A few other good ones too.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

SantaFefan · Posted: Sun Nov 16, 2008 7:27 pm Post subject:

Me too.. "Baby I Need Your Loving" would be on my top 20 list for sure, although not necessarily by the Four Tops.. ( I'm sure somebody else recorded it, unless I'm thinking of a different version by them.. Confused

)

I thought it was another great show! Razz

I haven't noticed any difference between producers.

Pick of the Pops was great today too!
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I need to listen again to that one SanteFe!

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

The Fourmost had a small hit in 64 with Baby... Though not as good as the Tops version, it was more than acceptable and made a slightly out-of-the-ordinary track for a Liverpool group at the time.

There have been other versions but I can't bring any to mind right now.

Re yesterday's SOTS, I also quite enjoyed my visit to the zoo hosted by Julie Felix bit it didn't sound like the original recording.

Did you hear Aled Jones' account of the Unicorn Song on GMS this morning? The Bachelors' rendition was quite a Junior Choice favourite and must qualify for a SOTS play some time soon.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Thanks, Ron. Going by this chronology, we did actually hear the original on Saturday but the version used on Junior Choice was a slightly later one.

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Have had quite a festival of SOTS, as I missed the second hour of last week's show and caught up with it on Listen Again yesterday evening.

Re this morning, it was a remarkable feat for American Roy Orbison to score a no 1 with It's Over when UK acts were so predominant.

Can't believe I was singing along to Seven Little Girls Sitting on the Back Seat whilst I was clearing up after breakfast!

The final twist record owed not a little to She'll Be Coming Round the Mountains.

Ian.

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:29 am Post subject:

Thoroughly enjoyable show this morning, one I didn't want to walk away from so that say's to me it's good.
35 tracks and only one I didn't like!
best part of the week without a doubt... Razz

Last week's track that made me smile was "Bingo, Bingo, I'm in Love!" I'd forgot all about that one. Laughing

_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

Briant · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:36 pm Post subject: The Big O......

Some more rare Roy Orbison tracks that should be played are 'Leah' (about a lost love), 'Indian Wedding', ( about star crossed lovers) and 'Actress' ( Roy laments loving the wrong woman!) I read that a defintive box set is now out as well as an eighteen track sampler of the great man!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Full marks for playing Helen Shapiro's You Don't Know and Jacky's White Horses.

Like the requester, I have Scottish memories of the Helen Shapiro one, as it was out in the school summer holidays in 1961, when I had a long sojourn in Uddingston, near Glasgow, and heard it over and over again.

Good to hear the Shadows' Apache, too. We've already bought tickets for Cliff and the Shadows in Newcastle next October!

Ian.

Briant · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject: Anoraks'r'us... Well me anyway!

On the subject of Roy Orbison's 'Only the lonely' and the 'Dum dum dummy do waa's' that counterpoint the vocals, people have speculated about who sang them. I have heard it was the Everly Brothers, The Kalin Twins and even Tompall and the Glaser Brothers! Now it seems that Joe Melson, Roy's co-writer on many of his early hits was the multi tracked man! I had a 45rpm of Joe in the sixties called 'No one really cares.' Did anyone else ever hear the song? Roy's other frequent co-writer was Bill Dees.

Nickbucks · Joined: 30 Dec 2006 Posts: 100

Very unscientific I know but in the many years I have been listening to SOTS I reckon that Helen Shapiro's 'You don't Know' is the record that has received most airplay. I know BM has a soft spot for the lass and often mentions her and I guess it is not a bad record. Can anyone prove this with any statistics ?

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 8:42 pm Post subject:

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Did the Twiggy track today have a fault? I don't recall this one but the voice seemed terribly under-recorded.

Was singing along with Fitba' Crazy. Having had a Scottish mother means that I grew up with songs like Ye Canny Shove Yer Granny. I remember Andy Stewart using this song as a vehicle for his skill in mimicry--there was a version in Elvis style.

I note that there's another connections special on Sat 27 Dec and look forward to the Motown special in the New Year.

BM is also presenting a documentary on Woolworths cover singles on Tues 30 Dec, 10:30 to 11:30pm. Not the best timing, bearing in mind Woolworth's current plight, but the show itself should be interesting.

Ian.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

Having only listened fitfully at the time, I've just Listened Again, and she sounds "all right", except that it's one of those exaggerated stereo mixes where the vocals are concentrated on one (the left) channel.

I remember Robin Hall and Jimmy MacGregor on Tonight; they used to alternate with Cy Grant! They did record Ye Cannie Shove Yer Grannie Aff A Bus, as did legendary folk singer Hamish Imlach, but not Andy Stewart, though he might have used it in his stage performances. With such a comic title you'd expect a funny song, but the words don't live up to the promise - http://www.theballadeers.com/Lyrics_Y_Z.htm#YE%20CANNA%20SHOVE%20YER%20GRANNY
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Ron

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

Only heard the second hour of SOTS this week.

I also remember Robin Hall and Jimmy MacGregor from Tonight, and the football song on Children's Favourites.

H
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88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

I kept expecting "Let's Live For Today" by The Rokes, which was on SOTS this morning, to turn into "I Count The Tears....a great Drifters song...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=auWMtfsgY3I

I've never heard The Rokes's song before

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Having the peerless Stranger on the Shore as a Stuck on Two again shows the divergence between charts in those days. SOTS uses the same chart as the Guinness Book of Hit Singles and this record did indeed peak at 2 there. But the NME chart gives it one week at no 1.

I've often wondered why the Small Faces' Lazy Sunday is in Cockney early on but switches to usual Small Faces inflections later.

A splendid Three in a Row from Kenny Ball's Jazzmen. The tracks chosen were exactly what I'd have put in if I'd been producing. I was especially pleased to hear the Green Leaves of Summer, which doesn't often crop up.

Fitting to end with Tommy Steele, as it was --unbelievably-- his 72nd birthday on Wednesday.

I look forward to the special programmes over the next 2 weeks, plus lots more to come in 2009.

Ian.

Lord Evan Elpuss · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 3415 Location: Cloud Cuckoo Land

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I heard today's special rather bittily, as I'm slightly unwell and was dozing in bed during it. But I love the Alan Price version of I Put a Spell on You and it was good to hear such a comprehensive roster of well-loved artistes throughout the show.

Looking forward to next week's Tamla special--and don't forget BM is on at 10:30pm on Tuesday with a review of the inexpensive cover version records that Woolworth's used to do.

By the way--my slight indisposition is not self-inflicted. The symptoms should be sorted when I have my op in late Jan (see my posting on Coffee Bar).

Ian.

SantaFefan · Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

Has R Dene Taylor had new windscreen wipers fitted on "Gotta See Jane"? I don't remember them being quite so pronounced before.... Laughing

_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

SantaFefan · Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Really enjoyed this weeks show as it contained many all time favourites of mine including..
"Mama" by Connie Francis, "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" Bobby Vee,
"The Boat That I Row" by Lulu, Razz

The incredible "Little Tin Soldier" by the Small Faces.. ( would be on my Top 50 list for sure.. )
"Lover Please" by the Vernon's Girls.. Loved this one as kid, great to hear it again, and finally the equally superb "I'm Alive" by the Hollies - what a band this was!.
Best show of the week...
_________________
Johnnie Walker read out my message on Pirate Radio! Very Happy

13/8/07
I have heard how radio should be.

Helen May · Joined: 10 Dec 2006 Posts: 19335 Location: Cheshire

I missed SOTS on Saturday SanteFe and the playlist had not been updated so I didn't listen. I checked it out today and I must make time to listen before Saturday.

The Night Has a Thousand Eyes is one of my alltime faves, Johnnie Walker played it for me when he sat in for Brian. I always loved the Hollies I'm Alive as well.

H
_________________
88 - 91 FM this is Radio 2 from the BBC!

I said it live on air in the studio with Jeremy Vine on 10/3/2005

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

I heard Saturday's in bits but have now caught up with the lot.

Maths may not be their strong point as, according to BM, there was an interval of 27 years between Mike Berry's hits in 1963 and 1980!

Great show, nonetheless. Loved the football pun from THAT Mary Poppins song. The Donovan song in Three in a Row was new to me but is rather charming.

Ian.

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Had to wait till almost the end of the programme today for one of my big favourites--the Rockin' Berries' Poor Man's Son--but it was worth the wait.

Still the most civilised imaginable way to start Saturday.

Ian.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815

A nice song from Long John Baldry this morning i've never heard before....Hold Back The Daybreak....only really think of Let The Heartaches Begin when i hear his name......think i should look some of his other work up

And LOVE this one from The Move...... Smile

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-kzz0u642KU

Minx · Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 11:15 am Post subject:

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

My hospital trip was only as a day case (see postings in Coffee Bar), so I heard SOTS as usual on Sat.

I do remember Hold Back the Daybreak, which was the follow-up to Let the Heartaches Begin, but, as BM said, its similarity to its predecessor worked against its sales.

Pepe is one of those tunes which I knew but hitherto couldn't have named.

Have no recollection of the Spike Milligan piece in the Junior Choice slot.

Ian.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

iwarburton · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 2133 Location: Northumberland

Have been thumbing through the current RT and note that once again SOTS is just about the only R2 programme of the entire week in which RT doesn't say who its presenter is.

If I were BM, I wouldn't stand for it.

Ian.

Minx · Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2009 10:22 am Post subject:

Great show again this morning. Didn't remember the Susan Maughan near hit "She's New to You", but was struck by how much the opening sequence of that record resembled the start of Billy Fury's "I'll never find another you".

Never heard the Helen Shapiro version of "Something Wonderful", for which I didn't much care. It reminded me of a time when her voice seemed to become very strained and weak, completely lacking the timbre of her earlier work.

A consistently great show. Smile

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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6815